Agricultural machine



A. WOLFF.

AGRICULTURAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I, 1919.

, Patented J kahl ' Specification of IiettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 1o, rosa.

Application lfiled. November 7, 1919.* Serial 11043363542 i To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, AUGUST WoLFr, a citizen of the UnitedStates, anda resident ofV the borough of the Bronx, countyof the Bronx, 'city and Stat-e offNeW Yorlnhave invented certain new i andy useful lmprove-i ments in Agricultural AMachines,l of 'which' the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in agricultural machines,` and has for anA object to provide amachine adapted to carry out at one time, or as separate operations if desired, the various4 ground working processes of plowing, fertilizingr raking, harrowing, and planting, to the end that the farmer will not require 'more' than-ithe one machine, andI the preparation oftherground for producing vegetation will be greatly simplified, and may be carried out with the least consummatioii''oftimey and labor. The further `objects are to provide*- a machine which may be operated" in either direction to perform similar operations,-so that it may be run 4back and forth over theground without necessitating turning.y

llfith these and other objects inview, an embodiment of my invention is showni'in the accompanyingidrawing, and this eIn-g bodiment will be 'hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, andthe iii-'- vention will be finally `pointedout, i-n the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 isf a side elevation oft'he present embodiment of my 2 is a plan view thereof.` Similarreference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the `draw ings.

Referring tothe drawings,t the embodiment of my invention shown therein,- coin-l prises a frame preferably of structural steel,

and consisting of'parallellongitudinal up-` per beams 10 and 11, 12 `and 18,'lower longitudinal beams 14, bracing.beams-14a, disposed betweenthe upper beams 1(landV 4I8 and. the lower beams 14, and 4horizontal and upright beams 15 atthe'ends.`

The shafts 16 and 17 of `toothed wheels-- 1S, 19, 20, and 21,\are journaled transversely ofthe beams y1 4 at one-,end of the iframe in bearings 22,y endless traction -belts 23- and 24 extending' over the respective wheels 18,

19 and 20, 21. The traction `belts comprise ,spar-ed pairel of parallel chains extend improved agricultural machine.- Fig."

ingv overthe toothed peripheries of the wheels, andV connected by ground-engaging crosspieces` 26,` provi-ded with `suitable'traction studs 27. At the other end of the frame? thereis provided af singlel guide wheel 28, journalledlin a forlredbracket29, the up-` right shaft 29 of which is rotatably mounted in-a crossvpiece' 30 of the frame, and-is provided with `a sprocket gea-r 31, connected by the sprocket 'chain 32 toa sprocket gear '33,' provideduon a steering post 34mo`untedupon a central platform or floor 35,1supportedvupon the frame.

The shaft 17 is drivenfrom themotorBG.V The-shaft BTof the motor is provided with a Worm 38",engaging a worm gear SQprovided on ythe-shaft 17 within the differential liousing` 40. The motoris mounted substantially centrally of the machin'e,andy isof any desirabletype, being provided'with the usual control `and `reversing `means (notshown).

Atransve'rse drive shaft 41 isjournalled in the beamslO, 11,12, and 13, beneath the floor 35, and is driven from the shaft 17 by means'of chain 42, extendingover sprocket gears-43 and 44, provided respectively on theshafts 17 and-41. Beneath the shaft 41` there is journalled in Abearings 45 upon the beams'114, a shaft 46,' having one 'end` pro jecting :from the frame, andprovided with abeve'lled gear 47 lkeyed thereomtheisliaft also havingfloosely mounted thereto a hub 48, providedwith a pair of radially dis' posedf-tubular` bearing portions 49 and 50, in-wvhioh` are mounted the shafts 551i` and 52` of theplowblades 53 and 34,saidV shafts en# gagii-ig` vthe 'apertured endsrof "forwardly projecting arms 55 and 56,1 provided oir an arcuate slotted plateV 57, disposed circumferential'ly `about t-hebevelled 1 gear 47. The slotof the plate-57 engages a lixed pin 60, and a` handle 61 extends upwardly from the hub 4S 'and -byswinging this from one el;` treme position to thegother, either of the" plows may ybe` engaged' in the` ground, de pending upon'the direction in which the machine is to travel. `In either of the einv treme positions, the positionsof the plows 69a are provided in the plate 57 to enable the positioning of the plates at different degrees of elevation and inclination. The shaft 46 is driven from the shaft 41 by means of a chain 7 0 extending over sprocket gears 71 and 72 respectively provided on the said shafts, and thereby through the bevelled gear and pinions, the plows are rotated. By moving the handle 61 to an intermediate position, both plows will be raised from the ground, the bolts 62 and 63 entering beneath the ends of the plate 57 and supporting the plows in raised position.

The plows comprise two curved and flared blades 73 and 74 pointed at their endsas at 75, and arranged with their concave sides toward each other to form a tube. In operation the pointed ends cut into the ground with a scooping, drilling action, which effectually turns and breaks up the ground.

At each side of the plows and toward the ends of the frame, there are journalled in bearings 76 mounted upon the bea-ms 10, l1, 12, and 13, transverse shafts 77 and 78, projecting beyond the frame at the plow `side thereof, and supporting the raking api paratus A and B respectively. These raking apparati are similar in form, but opposed in relation, andare adapted to operate behind the plows, one being in operation, while the other is out of operation. They each comprise an inclined frame having a pair of parallel sides 79 and 80, connected by intermediate bracing pieces 81, the upwardly extending apertured ends engaging the respective shafts 77 and 78, sprocket gears 82 and 83 being secured to the said shafts within the frame, while the downwardly projecting apertured ends support a shaft 84, having sprocket gearsv 85 and 86 mounted thereon, and engaging at its inwardly projecting end the arcuate slot 87 of a plate 88 secured to the beam 14. Endless chains 89 and 90 extend over .the sprocket gears and support a series of cross-bars 91 upon which are mountedconveyer buckets 92, provided at their open ends with projecting rake teeth 93, and adapted as they engage the ground to gather up rocks, brush,

and the like, extending above the ground.y

The frames of the raking apparatus are connected byv rods 94 and 957 provided at their ends with flexible portions 94a and 95a, to the periphery of a drum 96, mounted in y al bracket `97 supported on the beam 10, the

said drum being provided with a lever handle 98 by which it maybe turned and through its connections with the raking apparatus, raise eitherof them, while the other is lowered, so that the apparatus to be operated is engaged with the ground, while the other is raised therefrom. The handle 98 is secured in position by means ofa hook 99,

engaging one or the other lof two eyelets 100A 'on the shaft 41.

and 101 provided on the base of the bracket 97. By moving the handle to an intermediate position, both of the raking apparatus will be raised from the ground.

TheJ shafts 77 and 78 are individually driven Vfrom the drive shaft 41 by countershafts 102 and 103 journalled in the beams 12 and 13, and provided with sprocket gears 104 and 105 connected by chains 106 and 107 to sprocket gears 77a and 78a on the shafts 77 and 78. Gears 108 and109 on the countershafts 101 and 102 are adapted to be individually meshed with a shifting gear 110, keyed to the shaft l1 and adapted to be shifted by means of a lever 111 pivotally mounted upon lthe under side of the Hoor 35 and engaging the annular groove 112 in the hub of the gear 110. As illustrated, the machine is arranged to move in the direction of the arrow, the raking apparatus B is lowered and driven, while the raking apparatus A is raised and stationary. The material picked up by the raking apparatus B is deposited in a receptacle 113 transversely supported upon the beams 14, the material first falling upon an inclined chute 114, which carries it to the receptacle, and similarly, the material picked up by the raking apparatus A. iS deposited in a receptacle 115, disposed longitudinally, however, between the beams 11 and 12, an'inclined chute 115, carrying the materialv to the receptacle.

In front of each of the plo'ws in their operative positions, there are dispose-fl the ends of fertiliser distributing tubes 11G and 117 respectively, and adapted, as will presently appear, todeposit fertilizer upon the ground, which is thereupon mined into 'the ground by the operation of the plows. The tubes are connected at their upper ends to outlets at theV lower portions of the sides of fertilizer containers 118 and 119, having their bottoms 120 and 121 inclined to the said outlets, the upper sides of the said conainers being provided with l'iinged. covers 122 and 123, and also supporting the seats 124 and 125, upon either of which'the driver may sit in a corresponding relation with the steering post, depending upon the direction of travel of the machine. 116 there is provided a rotary feed wheel 126, adapted.,` as it is rotated, to gradually feed the fertilizer, and when stationary to stop its flow, its shaft 127 being journalled in the beams 10 and 11 and provided with '1^ a, sprocket gear 128, connected by a chain 129 to a sprocket gear 130, loosely mounted Pins 131 are provided upon the face of the gear 130 adapted to cngage sockets 132 in the side of a sliding clutch collar 133, keyed to the shaft- 41 and adapted to'be moved into and out of engagement withthe gear 130 by means of a lever 135 pivotally mounted upon a bracket y136 and engaging an annular groove 137 in the lVithin the tube tilizer distributing means vin front offthe` plow and the raking apparatus rearwardly thereof to be simultaneously operated.

lllhen the clutch collar 133 is shiftedv out of engagement withthe gear 130, it is engaged, with a sprocket gear 142 `loosely mounted lupon the yshaft`41 and provided with pins 143, adapted to engage sockets 144 in the clutch collar. ylhe gear 142 is connetted by a chain 145 to a sprocket gear 146 mounted on the shaft 147 of the-feeding wheel 143 disposed'in the fertilizer distrib-4 uting' tube 117.` The fertilizer tubes for the `greater part of their lengthvare'disposed close to the frame to provide a free-wayfor swinging' of the plows, while at their lower outlet ends, they are deflected` outwardly into the path of the plows.`

Disposed rearwardly of the rakingy apparatus, there are respectively provided invertically slotted brackets 149 securedto the beam 14, knife members 150 and 159a adapted in their' lowered position to cut a groove or furrow in the ground for the reception of seed. Theknife members are adapted to move vertically in the brackets, and at their upper ends are provided with a pin 151 engagged at its under side by theend'of a crank lever 152, pivotally mounted in a bracket 153 supported upon the beam 14 and connected at its short arm by a rod 154 to the frame of the raking' apparatus, so that as the raking; apparatus is lowered the knife mem ber is likewise lowered, while raising of the apparatus will cause the knife member to be raised out of the `ground into inoperative po* sition. i

Rearwardly of theknife members there are disposed the out-let ends of seed distributinp, tubes 155 and 156"connectediat their upper ends to the outlets of seed bones 157' and 153 mounted upon the upper sideof the frame, the bottoms' 159 and 160 of the seed boxes being inclined toward the outlets. lllithin the tube 155 there is disposed a rotatable seed distributingwheel 161, itsshaft 162 being journaled in the beams 10 and 11, and provided with a sprocket gear 163, connected by a chain 164 to a sprocket gear 165 provided on the shaft 77 of the raking" apparatus A and byrmeans of which it is rotated. Similarly a seed distributingwheel 166 is disposedin the tube 156 having its shaft 167 journaled in the beams 10 and 11,

and provided ywith a sprocket gear`168 connected by a chain 169 to a sprocket gear 170 provided yon the shaft 78 of the raking apparatusB; l

Rearwardly of each of the seed distributingr tubes there `is provided a roller 172, its supporting, arm 173 beingpivotally mounted onl a shaft 174 secured to the beam 14, a lever arm 175 being provided on the hub 176 of the1arm173which is connected by a slotted link 177 to the end of the lever 152 so that when the lever 'is actuated, the roller will be raised or lowered into `inoperative `or operative'positions. A rake 178 lisprovided in i front of the roller, its arm 17 9 beingq adjustably connected to the arm 173 by means of a bolt 130 engamnga slot 181 in the arm 173. After'the seeds are planted in the furrow made by Ythe knife members 150 and 1502*, earth is covered over the seed by the rake and-.rolled by 'the roller.: The slotted link 177 permitsthe roller to move up yand down to a limited degree to follow the irregularitiesof the ground, without disturbing the lever 152. 1

In the illustration, the machine-moving in the direction ofthe arrow, the -plow 53, the

fertilizer distributor i116, the raking appa` ratus B, thek-nifemember 150, the seed distributor 156 and the rakey and roller rearwardly ofthe seed distributor 156 are in operation, performingr the successive functions of distributing fertilizer upon the ground, plowing` and mixing; the fertilizer into 4the ground, raking rocks, brush, and other dbris projecting above the ground, cutting; a furrow in the ground, for the reception vof seed, and planting* seed in the furrow. lllhen the machine reachesC the end. of its travel in one direction, the saine is shiftedso that the plow will engage the unbroken ground contiguous to the previously broken ground, and the plow 54 is placed in operative position together with the fertilizer distributor 117', the raking apparatus B. the knife member 150s, the' seed distributing `apparatus 155, and the `ra-ke and roller rearwardly of the seed distributor 155, Awhereupon by driving the machine in the reverse direction, these parts of theimachine function in a similar manner to the corresiriondino parts above referred to. ln either direction of movement of the machine; the driver may observe the action of the plowv through the opening` 171 in the frame at one side of the platform 35, so that he may accurately determine the directionto drive the machine. y nectinfr the Vdriving chains of any of the varionsv implements, namely, the plows, fertilizerV distributor means,` raking apparatus, the-knife means for cutting` a seed receiving furrow,and the/seed distributing` means, one

or more of the implements may be made voperative or inoperative, so that tbe vmachine may be operated as a plow only, or as a rale Cit ing apparatus, or in any desired combination, depending upon the particular requirements. The machine, it will be understood, may be used for excavating, trench-digging and the like.

l have illustra-ted and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the'appended claims.

I claim:

l. ln an agricultural apparatus, a frame, propulsion means therefor, a plow having a pair of transversely curved and flared blades arranged with their concaveV sides toward each other and adapted to have rotary movement, said plow also adaptedv to be adjusted into'fixed relation to the frame and extend in thedirection of progressive movement thereof, whereby said'curved and flared blades are adapted to effect a scooping anddrilling action for turning and breaking up the ground.

2. 1n an agricultural apparatus, a frame adapted to travel over the ground, a two blade plow mounted on the frame and arranged to be secured in relation to the frame to extend in the direction of progressive movement thereof, said blades being transversely curved and flaring and disposed with their concave sides toward each other, and means for axially rotating the plow whereby to scoop and drill the ground for turning and breaking up th-e same.

'3. In an agriculturalapparatus, a frame, propulsion means therefor, a plow coinprising a pair ofV opposed blades of curved cross section pointed at their ends, and forming a tube, said plow adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, andmeans for rotating said plow.l

4.111 an agricultural apparatus, a frame, propulsion means therefor, a plow comprising a pair of opposed blades of `curved cross section and of gradually increasing width toward their ends and forming a flared tube, said plow adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, and means for rotating said plow.

5. 1n an agricultural apparatus, a frame Vadapted to be moved over the ground, a twoblade plow carried by the frame and having its blades transversely curved and arranged with their` concave sides toward each other and pointed at their outer ends and flaring toward the saine, means for adjustably fixing said plow in relation to the frame to extend in thedirection of th-e progressive ,A movement thereof, and means for axially turning said plow whereby to consecutively bring vsaid pointed and curved ends of the blades into scooping and drilling contactl with the ground and to turn overand break upV the same.

6. In an agricultural apparatus, a frame, propulsion means therefor, adapted to propel said frame in forward and reverse directions, and reversible plow means carried by said frame and adapted to move in either direction of travel of said frame and adjust said plowto extend in the direction of progressive movement of thel frame.

7. ln an agricultural machine, a frame, propulsion means therefor, adapted to propel said machine in forward and reverse directions, a pair of plow means disposed in opl .with the ground and extend in the direction of progressive movement of the frame, and means adapted to rotate said members about their longitudinal axes.

9. 1n an agricultural machine, a frame, propulsion means therefor, adapted to propel said machine in vforward and reverse directions, a transverse shaft journaled in said frame, a pair of oblong rotary plow members disposed lradially about said shaft and having swinging movement in the plane of rotation of said shaft .adjustably securedto one or the other of said members to extend in the Vdirection of movement of the` frame and engage with the ground, means for rotating said transverse shaft, a gear on said shaft, and gears carried by said plow membersmeshing with said gea-rat said shaft, and adapted thereby to rotate said members. Y

10. 1n an agricultural machine, a frame, propulsion means therefor, adapted to propel said machine in forward and reverse directions, a transverse shaft journaled in said frame,`a pair of oblong rotary plow members disposed radially about said shaft and having swinging movementin the plane of rotation'v of said' shaft adjustably secured to one or the other of said' members Ato extend in the direction 'of movement of the frame and engage with the ground, means for rotating said transverse shaft, a bevelled gear on Y, said shaft, and bevelledv pinions carried by said plow members meshing with said bevelled gear and adapted thereby to rotate said members about their longitudinal axes.

ll.' 1n an agricultural apparatus, a frame adapted to travel over the ground, a tubular plow carried on the vfi'ane and having a flarinoV end with soaeed ioints thereat means 'for fixing the plow with relation to the iframe to extend in the general direction ol the progressive movement thereof, and means toie axially rotating the plow whereby to effec-t drilling and seooping of the earth to effectively lneak up and turn over the same.

l2. ln an agricultural apparatus, a frame adapted to tavel over the ground, a plow ot tubular construction flaring toward its outer end and having opposed points at said end to provide spade like members, means for securing the plow relatively to the frame to extend in the general direction of the progi'essive movement of the frame, and means for axially rotatingthe plow whereby to successively bring said curved spade-like points of the plow into Contact with the ground for drilling and seooping the saine and effectively breaking up and turning over the ground. y

ln testimony that I elaiin the foregoing as my invention, l have signed my name hereunder.

AUGUST VVOLFF. 

